Stage apparatus



May 14, 1935. R, GEN-3 2,001,678

STAGE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 23, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet '1 A1 55/5 ,INVEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

May 14, 1935. R, L, GEIB v 2,001,678

S TAGE] APPARATUS Filed Feb. 28, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY May 14, 1935.

R, L GEIB STAGE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 23, 1954 4 Shee tSSheet INVENTOR.

A TTORX/Z'YS.

Patented ,May 14, 1935 UNITED STATES 7 2,001,678 STAGE APPARATUS Robert Lewis Geib, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc'., New York, N. Y.,

I a corporation of Delaware Application February 28, 1934, Serial No. 713,350

is Claims. (01. 20-1123) This invention relates to improvements in theatrical stages. It is particularly useful in connection with the production of motion pictures wherein unusual effects are to be produced.

,An object of the invention is to produce a scene that-gradually increases in size giving a great production valuein a small restricted area.

-.This is accomplished by providing a plurality ofnested concentric telescoping stages or platforms upon which dancers or actors may perform- While using this .system' of telescoping stages unusual shots may be made'wherein the eye of the camerasees at first one actor or actress standing on the outermoststage and gradually the camera -view is increased as the stages areextended one above the other revealing other actors previously hidden behind the first actor.

Another object of the invention is to produce a sceniceffect of a waterfall of gradually. varying intensity. This is accomplished by providing each one ofxa plurality of stepped concentric stages with a remotely controlled hydraulic display system.

An advantage of this arrangement is that the camera may .at first view what is apparently a solid body of falling water. which. gradually. decreases in intensity to reveal an action component uponthe concentric telescoping stages behind the fall of the water.

. The concentric stages may be rotated in different directions at will to produce still further unusual effects in combination with the abovementioned advantages.

Thus it will be seen that a vast number of unusual and pleasing scenes may be obtained in a small restricted space by the use of this apparatus.

For further details of the invention reference may be made to the drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in cross-section, of the hydraulic elevator and its associated turntables.

Fig, 2 is a side elevation in cross-section of one of the turntables showing the hydraulic arrangement carried thereby.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view showing the positions. of the driving motors.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one of the driving motors.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the driving motor shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. .6 is a diagrammatic view showing the relative positions of the lift arms, and rest members.

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the, controls for the hydraulic supply system,

Referring now to Fig. 1, the apparatus consists primarily of an extensible or collapsible support I. Support I is composed of a hollow cylinder 2 mounted around and .above aflange 3 integral with a base plate l. Base plate 4 projects from underneath cylinder 2, and rests on a concrete bed 5 to form a substantial supporting base for the apparatus. Bed 5 forms the bottom of a suitable elevator shaft or pit 6..

Concentric with cylinder 2 is a second hollow telescoping cylinder 1, the uppermost end of which is closed by a flange 8. Fastened to and depending from flange 8 is a hanger 9 which has a series of guide shoes Ill, H and I2, adapted to contact alternately a series of guide rings, such as i3 and Mmounted on the outsideof the cylinder 2 thus ensuring a steady movement of the hanger 9 during movement. of the cylinder 1.

' The bottom end of the cylinder 1 is mounted around a flange [6 projecting above a screwthreaded base member to form a piston head. The screw l5 mates with a collar I! which in turn supports a second collar l8. Aroundthe head of the collar i8 is mounted a leather washer I 9 in contact with the walls of the cylinder 2.; A retainer ring rests on and positions the leather Washer 19.

A second leather washer 2| is supported, byring 20. A spacer ring 22 rests on the leather 2| and is held in place by a piston spacer 23 mounted on the'annulus of the piston 1. Supported on the top of piston spacer 23 is a piston guide 24 upon which rests a third leather washer 25 securely held in place by a retaining ring 26. These elements form a compact piston head for the cylinder l. Y

The. upper end of the cylinder 2 is closedby means of a guide bushing 21 having a suitable form of packing 23 held in place against the walls of thecylinder l by a packing gland 29.1 A retaining ring integral with the top of the cylinder 2 serves as a base for a screw stud 3! which in turn holds the'packing gland29 in place..

I An aperture 32 adjacent the base of cylinder 2 permits the entrance of a feed pipe 33 through which liquid under pressure maybe applied to the piston head of the'cylinder '1. Air vents such as Hifl are placed in the cylinder 2 adjacent the ring 30, to permit the free passage of air into the space between the cylinders 2 and 1 above the piston head of the cylinder 1. Pipe 33 also serves PATENT OFFICE):

as an outlet pipe for the liquid .when pressure is released, and thus the cylinder! will be returned to its normal position by gravity. The hanger or truss 9 consists of a series of spaced steps 34, 35, 36 and 31 which are connected together and held rigid by means of suit able cross-arms or struts such as 39 and 40. "A bracket 42 is mounted on an arm 4| depending from the lowermost step 31. A guide wheel 43 issupported by and'rotates about a bearing-44 suitably mounted on the bracket 42. Guide wheel- 43 is adapted to traverse a vertically supported channelled guide rail 45, to prevent rotation of and add stability to the member 9 and its associated parts.

A pair of rails 46 rest on theuppermost step34 and support a car" through a. series of wheels such as 48 resting on and adapted to traverse the rails 46. The car 41 forms the innermost one 49 of the concentric turntables or stages 49, 50, 5|

and 52. p I

' Car 53, similar to the ear member 41 is supported by suitable wheels" such as 54 resting on and adapted to traverse a pair of rails 55 which are supported by the second step 35, when the apparatus is in its extended position. 'The rails 55, and through them the car 53, are adapted to be supported by a suitably arranged rest 56 when the-apparatus is in itscollapsed position so that theic'ari 41 willibe alongside the car 53 and the are adapted to be supported by and traverse the rails 64 which are supported by the fourth step 31 when the apparatus is in its extended position, and by the rest 65 adjacent the rest when the apparatus is in its closed position; It is to be understood'that the cars 41, 53., 51 and SI are an-. nular vehicles adapted to rotate. about the member 8 as a center. V I

--In the operation of this device when liquid is forced through the pipe 33 it comes into contact .with the piston head of the'cylinder 1 and forces at upward, which in turn advances the hanger 9. The step 34 and its associated platform 49 are raised abovethe. platforms 50, 5| and 52*.until 'such a point. isreached when the step 35 of the hanger 9 comes in contact with the rails 55 and lifts them from off the rest 56. The stage 58 is then elevated above the stages 5 and 52, until the step 36L comes'in contact with the rails59' and advances them from off the step 69 thus lifting "the stage 5| away. from the stage 52 until finally the step, 31 picksup the rails 631mm off of the rest and. elevates the stage 52 from the floor 1 "level; Thus the stages 49 50, 5| and 52 are .held

. is similar in all respectsto thecars 41, 53, 51 and 6|. The car of Fig.2. consists mainlyof a supportinglbase 10 depending from which are a series of flanges 1| and ,12 which support bearings 13 and 114. Car wheels 15 andis16 rotate about axles 11 and 18 which are supported by the bearings 13 and 14 respectively. The wheels 15- and.16 traverse the rails 19, and 88'. These rails 19 and form a circular track as shown in Fig. 3-. The

. rails'191 and .80, are supported by channel irons 8| and 8,2 which are tied together by anysuitable cross strut members, such as 83, forming a rigid carriage;

Mounted on the base 10 isa car body formed of the walls 84 and 85 and joined together at the top by a flooring member 86 which forms the stage .01 platform such asthe platforms of the members 49, 58, 5| and 52, upon which actors may perform.' The carriage body is'held substantially rigidby means of suitable cross strut members 81, 88 and 89.

A pipe. member 90 is supported adjacent the wall 85 by means of a collar 93 suitably attached to the channel iron 82. The uppermost end of the pipe 90 terminates in a nozzle. 9| which overlaps the lip of a trough member 92. The lower endof the pipe 90 is in the form of a flexible hose (not shown) which is led to. any suitable supply line at the base of the apparatus I, as will be well understood; 1

A trough member. similarcto the trough 92 forms to the inner annulus of each of the-con centricstages 49, 50, El and. 52. Water is supplied to trough 92 through the pipe 99 whichTremains fixed'relative to the movement of theicar members due to: itsrigid connection to the chan-f nel iron 62. ,Water from the trough 92 flows through any suitable channel (not'shownl to "a reservoir tank 94 which is supported by the member .81 between the members 84 and .85. 'Ihereare three tanks (not shown) placed to counter-balance :each other and similar to. tank 94 for each of the rotating platforms 49, 58, 5| andSZ. Projecting into the tank is a feed pipe 95 which forms a source of supply to a centrifugal pump96. The pump96 supplies-water under pressure to the pipe lines .91, 98 and 99. Water from these lines may be led to anysuitable display system around the edges-of the platforms 49,59,5l and 52, as will be well understood' 7 1 'In;the instant case spray nozzles WGI'EIZOD: cealed within ornaments such as that shown at |09,Fi'g. v1. These ornaments were placed -.at suitable intervals around the annulus of the variousplatforms in orderthat a continuous sheetof water would be presented, when they were turned .;on.. 'Anannular drain tank 6-| 'islocated. underheath the platform 86 and returns surplus water (not shown), that may fall on and through the platform. 68 from the display system, back to the supply tank '94. 1 v

The pump 95 is driven by means of an electric motor NH mounted on thecross-beam 88 through aIsui-ta-ble positive drive, I92. Motor. lMis connected throughja suitable line I93 to; contacts M4 which are mounted on the base 10. Contacts! withdraw energy from the power rails 05 mounted on. and insulated from the cross-beam 83. 1

The inner wheels 48', 54', 58" and 6 of each of the platforms, 49, 50, 5| and 52 respectively, are providedwith chain. members I06, I131,- I98 and 189 respectively. These chain members each correspond to the chain member shown at H8 in Figs. 2. and .4'. Each of, these chain members extends around the periphery formed. by the: innermost wheels of each platform. Each platform is driven by means of an individual driving gear in contact with the chain members 106,, H11, H18 and I09 in a maner that will ,be described below. l

As shown in Fig. the platform: 49 isdriverr by means of the motor I21. The platform'58 is driven by meansofi the: motor H2. Platform 5| is driven by means or the motor H3 and a simiiw motor (not shown) drives. the platform 52'. r The motor construction and mounting Iisjsknii arhr eacl'tcase. V i l f Anfeiiectrici'motor 41' (Figs; 4' and. 5) mam,

ably mounted between the rails 19 and 80 by means of hanger bars I I 5 and I I6 attached thereto. The motor I I4 is coupled to a train of variable transmission gears I H by means of a flexible coupling H8. Power is transferred from the member I I1 to a worm gear I I9 through a second flexible coupling I20. Worm gear I I9 meshes with a pinion gear |2|, journaled to a shaft I22. Shaft I22 is supported by a bearing housing I23 mounted adjacent the member 82.

A sprocket or driving gear I24 is journaled at the upper end of the shaft I22. The teeth of gear I24 mesh with the links of the chain IIO. Thus it will be seen that when the motor 4 is energized from any suitable source (not shown) the speed of rotation of sprocket gear I24 will be controlled by means of the variable transmission gear train 1, so that the platform supported by the wheels such as 16 may be rotated in either direction or at any desirable speed at will.

Motor I21 is mounted in a slightly different manner from the other motors I I2 and I I3, due to the fact that car 41 continually rests on step 34 and therefore motor I21 need not be moved relative thereto. The motor I21, as shown in Fig. l, is mounted on the member 9 and drives a set of variable transmission gears III through a chain connection I26. The gear train III is mounted on the step 34 by means of suitable hanger bars I25. Power is transmitted from gear train III to a driving 'gear I28 through a worm gear I23 and a clutch I30. It will be understood that the driving gear I28 meshes with the chain I06. Similarly the driving gear |3| of the motor H2 and the driving gear I32 of the motor |I3 mesh with the chains I01 and I 08 respectively. Thus the platforms 49, 50, 5| and 52 are each individually rotated, at will, by the use of this device.

Referring now to Fig. 6 there are shown four truss members 9, I35, I36 and I31, each one exactly similar to the other. The members 9, E35, I36 and I 31 are mounted on the member 8 and depend therefrom adjacent the telescoping cylinders 2 and I, as described in connection with Fig. 1. Spaced between the member 9 and the member I35 are the rest members 55, 60 and 65. Spaced between the members I35 and I36 are rest members I38, I39 and I40 similar to the rest members 56, 60 and 55. Similarly between the arms I36 and I31 are positioned the rest members |4|, I42 and I43 and between the members I31 and 9 are positioned the rest members I44, I and I45. The members 65, I38, MI and I44 are adapted to support the platform 52 in its rest position. The members 60, I39, I42 and I45 are adapted to support the platform 5| in its rest position, and members 56, I40, I43 and I46 are adapted to support the platform 53 in its rest position. The platform 49 is continuously supported by the step 34 integral with the members 9, I35, I36 and I31, as described above. Thus the platforms 49, 59, 5| and 52 are alternately supported by the rest members 56, 60, 55 and I38 to I46 when the apparatus is collapsed and the stages are nested, or by the hangers 9, I 35, I36 and I31, when the apparatus is in its extended position.

Referring to Fig. 7, liquid under pressure is supplied to the opening 33 by means of a pipe (not shown) connected at one end to a three-way valve I53 through a suitable meter |5|. The valve I is connected to an exhaust pipe I53 through a control valve I54. The liquid supply under pressure to the valve I50 is through a main line I55. A gauge I56 and an auxiliary check valve I 51 are located in the main pipe line I in front of the valve I50. A manually operable handle I58 controls the supply and exhaust from the valve I50. Any relative position of the cylinders 2 and 1 may be maintained by movement of the handle I58, which inone position permits liquid under pressure from the main line I55 to flow into the cylinder 2 and through contact with the piston head I1 raise the cylinder 1, or in another position it allows liquid to escape from the cylinder 2 through the exhaust line I53 and the cylinder 1 will be carried down by gravity to its rest position.

It will be seen that the platforms 49, 50, 5| and ,52 may be individually rotated at will. They may be extended or telescoped during rotation thereof and the hydraulic display system may be controlled to present either a tremendous mass of falling water or a gentle fall as may be desired.

Thus by various combinations of these elements it is possible to produce and photograph many pleasing and unusual scenes. It is to be understood that the controls for the various elements may be all located at a central control board under the direction of one operator, (not shown) without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

I claim:

1. A theatrical platform for motion pictures comprising a plurality of concentric telescoping stages, -a hydraulic display system individual to each of said concentric stages, means for successively extending and telescoping said stages, said means comprising a hydraulic lift, and means for rotating said stages, said last-mentioned means comprising a motor and gear train individual to each of said stages. r

2. A theatrical stage comprising the combination of a base, a plurality of concentric supports carried thereby and arranged at different elevations and each thereof adapted to support an annular stage, a hydraulic lift having a plurality of annular supports spaced apart, and a plurality of concentric rotatable stages each thereof being adapted tobe lifted by one of the concentric supports on said hydraulic lift when said hydraulic lift is extended and adapted to be supported by one of said first mentioned annular supports when said hydraulic lift is retracted.

3. A theatrical stage comprising the combination of a plurality of concentric stages, a base for supporting said stages with said stages nested in certain relative positions, an elevator for lifting said stages from said base with said stages in other relative positions, each of said stages comprising wheels for rotatably supporting said stages, a track for said Wheels, and a motor for driving said wheels whereby said stages are adapted to be rotated when supported by said base and also when supported by said elevator.

ROBERT LEWIS GEIB. 

